The Power of Choice

We all make choices every day. Some choices we make with purpose, and some we make by not taking action – simply by choosing to go with the status quo.

One of the most difficult – and the most critical – choices we all make during our careers is moving to a new job or role, whether it’s within the same organization/company or a completely new area/company. The current job (even if you don’t like everything about it) is a known quantity, you know what’s expected, and you know how to talk to your boss; perhaps you know that you’ll be able to leave work at a reasonable hour every day, or that you can come in late if you need to get the kids on the bus. The new job might mean more excitement, higher salary, and a chance to learn something new – or it might mean more responsibility and longer hours for the same salary.

Does the latter mean it’s a bad choice? Absolutely not. Consider the intern who chooses to work for free to gain experience, or the writer who chooses to blog for free to build a platform. The question is whether it’s the right choice for you.

Your current boss may tell you it’s not a great move. Ask yourself whether he is looking out for his own interests or yours.

Your mentors may advise you based on the choices they have made in the past. Are they assuming the path they took is the only right way?

Your spouse, friends, mother may all have an opinion; their views may be clouded by how your choice will affect them.

Here’s the secret: You have the power to make your own choice.

Ask yourself whether this change is important to you and your goals. If you make this choice today, what will it mean tomorrow? Next month? Next year?

Whatever you do, don’t just flip a coin; make the choice with intention.

Colette Martin is a cookbook author, food photographer, food allergy advocate and an expert on how to bake allergen-free. She is the author of the highly acclaimed Learning to Bake Allergen-Free: A Crash Course for Busy Parents on Baking without Wheat, Gluten, Dairy, Eggs, ...

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